Mystics of Chaos (Children of Ionthas)

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

"The High God decided to create the world of Krynn, and placed the plans for the foundation of the world in the Tobril. He then created the Powers, powerful beings responsible for carrying out the plan contained within the Tobril. Chief among these was Ionthas, who would be responsible for beginning the shaping of the world, and who was given greater gifts than all of his brethren."
--Excerpt from the Martinian Canon, by Matthew L. Martin

The High God and Chaos exist in opposition, embodying Order and Disorder within the universe. It is from Chaos that the High God created the universe, and it will be Chaos that the universe returns to.

While Chaos has no clerics, there are mystics who believe in the power of utter abandon, manifesting this belief as spiritual energy. They embrace the taint of Chaos on mysticism and are able to channel this power.

Beliefs

The world of Krynn was created from the formless void of Chaos. Everything in life is temporary. Life and death are meaningless. In the end, Krynn will return to Chaos from which it was spawned.

This time on this world should be enjoyed to the fullest, as you will not exist to remember this world in the end. Chaos mystics have a hedonistic lifestyle, living up all the niceties that life has to offer. Rules are for those who do not have the strength to make their own paths. Laws exist only to give comfort to those who cannot see the forthcoming Unmaking. Thus, life should be about total freedom.

While the general philosophy of the Unmaking is universal among Chaos mystics, the application may vary. Chaotic Good mystics believe that life should be lived joyfully, in the "now." Chaotic Evil mystics will do what they want (including murder), and take what they desire, damned be the consequences. Chaotic Neutral mystics seek a balance between the two philosophies, citing that you can do what you wish so long as you are prepared to accept the consequences. No matter what, though, a Chaos mystic must be Chaotic in alignment.

Ceremonies

The Unmaking: New mystics of Chaos are often required by their teacher to pass a personal Unmaking, where the person must spontaneously give up something of great value to them. For most, it is family and home. At other times, it can be a valuable possession. Success is celebrated through drunken revelry or other similar activities, so long as the spirit is free to celebrate uninhibited.

Organization & Leadership

The very idea of organization is antithesis to everything that mystics of Chaos believe in. Teachings and philosophies are passed on verbally. There is no set way that one can embrace Chaos.

Despite a lack of organization, many Chaos mystics look towards Brother Martinius [CN male civilized human mystic of Chaos 10] as a leader. Brother Martinius is the self-appointed Anarchist (prophet) of Ionthas, the fiery giant aspect of Chaos who assaulted the world during the Summer of Chaos. Martinius refers to all Chaos mystics as the Children of Ionthas. It is said that he spends time rewriting history to suit the framework of his own madness.

Ranks and Titles:

Individualist: Individualists are mystics of Chaos who are just starting to embrace their chaotic side. They explore their own sense of self-worth and start questioning society's rules and laws.

Renegade: Renegades are Chaos mystics who have gone from questioning authority to openly defying it. At this stage, they are not taking on a leadership role, but they will stand their own ground.

Revolutionary: Revolutionaries are those Chaos mystics who actively seek change in the world, toppling the foundations of law in hopes of achieving anarchy.

Anarchist: The Anarchist is the leader of the mystics of Chaos. The role is that of the prophet of the Father of All and of Nothing. The Anarchist is the spiritual backbone of the Chaos mystic movement, seeking to prepare the world for the upcoming Unmaking.

Races

The Greygem races, those creatures not of original creation that came about due to the influence of the Greygem, are most likely to gravitate towards the role of the Chaos mystic. The only notable exception is the minotaur race, whose lawful society produces few chaotic minotaurs. Kender especially gravitate towards this role. Humans are unpredictable enough in nature that they produce a number of Chaos mystics.

Classes

Mystics of Chaos are free about multiclassing with classes that are chaotic in nature. Many focus their studies on the path of the entropomancer (Complete Divine, p. 36 – 38). They tend to multiclass with sorcerers, nightstalkers, and bards primarily, as all ambient magic is touched by Chaos. Many take on levels of barbarian. Chaos mystics will shy away from classes focused around order and discipline, such as monks.

Areas of Influence

Chaos mystics are nomadic in nature, traveling from village to village in search of converts. Chaos mystics draw recruits from these villages, preaching their message of personal "freedom." They have no major base of operations and call no land home. Always on the move, the mystics prove to be hard to find.

Allies

Mystics of Chaos have few allies. Those who believe in anarchy and disorder will flock to their side. Clerics of gods who are chaotic in nature will also ally themselves with Chaos mystics, so long as the individual mystic's philosophy is compatible to that of their god. Clerics of Morgion, who believe in the decay of all things, are natural allies to Chaotic Evil Chaos mystics.

Enemies

Those who would be enemies of Chaos mystics are those who uphold the virtue of Order. The Knights of Solamnia have declared the Children of Ionthas to be a cult, and are seeking to remove their influence from Solamnia. The Knights of Neraka see Chaos mystics as a threat to the ideal of One World Order, and have ordered the immediate execution of any Chaos mystic. Also among the enemies of the Chaos mystics are the mystics of Law who follow the tenets of Order set down by the High God.

Bibliography

Complete Champion, p. 30

Complete Divine, p. 36 – 38

Martinian Canon, by Matthew L. Martin

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